How to fix Kernel Panic and gibberish screen on iMac early 2008 with macOS El Capitan 10.11.6?

I have a iMac early 2008 and hard drives were deleted, and a dog file (os) was loaded wrong and caused a kernel panic and loading just gibberish when turning on, I don’t need the data, I just need OS working El- Capitán 10.11.6

please help



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: New os

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Jan 22, 2026 3:57 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 24, 2026 7:07 AM

Reinstall OS X from that iMac's original, grey, System Install DVD which must accompany that Mac from cradle to grave. There really are no practicable alternatives.


Early 2008 was probably Leopard.


A retail, white, Mac OS Snow Leopard installation disc will probably work too.

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How to fix Kernel Panic and gibberish screen on iMac early 2008 with macOS El Capitan 10.11.6?

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